But now, McNamara's story has turned into a horror tale. Wednesday about 1:40 p.m. in the middle of a warm spring afternoon on a busy street, McNamara, 76, was bludgeoned to death with a baseball bat by a robber.

His niece, Joyce Cross, 63, who worked in the office, was seriously injured and underwent surgery Thursday. Cross was alone in the office when the attack began and McNamara walked in, Orange police said.